Friday, April 01, 2011

Quade Cooper has been up to his tricks again, with two sensational moments in particular standing out in the past two weeks After many requests, here they are.

Against the Rebels Cooper produced a similar hop, skip, and sidestep to the one he did to Cory Jane in the Tri Nations last year. On this occasion was two players he beat though, with ease.

That was two weeks ago, and in the last round of Super Rugby cooper pulled out a trick that has probably not been seen before in pro rugby- a 40m kick-pass from behind his own tryline.

While there was advantage to the Reds for a Cheetahs knock-on, Cooper has since said that he wasn't aware of it, and it just seemed natural to go for the kick, mostly based on the 29-3 scoreline at the time. The match ended 41-8 incidentally.

"I just looked up and they weren't putting too much pressure on me," Cooper explained. "Digby was out there, no one on him. If I could throw the ball that far, I'd have passed it to him but obviously I can't throw a pass 40m so I kicked the ball to him and he nearly turned it into a try.

"I just got the ball to him as quick as possible and he runs 50m and palms a few blokes off and we just drop the ball with the link pass. So we have to get better at finishing that sort of stuff. People say it's risky, but if you trust your players I don't see it as being risky."

If it had come off it would have been outstanding, and another rap for the gifted Wallaby playmaker. His Reds teamate Will Genia wouldn't have been to surprised. "He does what he does. Sometimes he's an absolute shocker, but you wouldn't ever try to curb him," said Genia.

Had the advantage and failed miserably 30 meters later... against the Cheetahs too. Not impressed, sorry.

Less Anzac rugby please RD. We know you're South African, you won't be considered biased if you post some South African clips once in a while though. Thanks. (The Fouries tries dont count, they have Oconnor in them)

Random thoughts, just finished watching a top 14 game btwn biaritz n clermont. Couldn't help but notice what great Players Magnus Lund n Brock James are. Nugensyza (bad spelling I know)is exciting as well. Wouldn't u rather c them and the most devastating wing in the British isles... No not Ashton... Tim visser of edinburgh (and holland) in bas bas stripes rather than the current combo of the tri nations along with a few NH player format.

We've always been very proud of al charrons bas bas status here in Canada, signifying him as one of the games greats. Would love to see the same recognition for other players outside the top countries.

really can't see what the fuss is about for these clips, the side stepping! - you see loads of centres doing that all the time, run around 1 player and almost beat another, WA-HEYYYY GET THE MEDALS OUT!!!! :D And kick to your winger!!!!!!! LOL f**k!!! What a rarity in professional rugby, a CROSS FIELD KICK!!! sorry about the caps lock, it's for the slower members of the forum (kiwis and aussies). xoxo ;)

Some interesting comments (apparently it's "silly" to step two players).It's laughable, because there are only a tiny number of players who step like that in the pro game, and very few players have EVER done a crossfield kick to their winger WHILE BEHIND THEIR OWN TRYLINE.Some people really don't know rugby.

"Random thoughts, just finished watching a top 14 game btwn biaritz n clermont. Couldn't help but notice what great Players Magnus Lund n Brock James are. Nugensyza (bad spelling I know)is exciting as well. Wouldn't u rather c them and the most devastating wing in the British isles... No not Ashton... Tim visser of edinburgh (and holland) in bas bas stripes rather than the current combo of the tri nations along with a few NH player format.

We've always been very proud of al charrons bas bas status here in Canada, signifying him as one of the games greats. Would love to see the same recognition for other players outside the top countries."

Interesting idea Canadian, but the problem with that is the same one that prevents most NH players from being bah bahs.Basically it's outside the international window, so the NH clubs (who are in mid-season at that point) don't want to release their players, which is understandable.So it ends up being all the SH players who are still in Europe at the end of their November tour.